Welcome to Dining Beyond Zone 1, our series of restaurant reviews dedicated to seeking out quality local places to dine beyond the frenzy of Central London.
From its street entrance The Bishop-out-of-Residence might not be much to look at, but go round the corner to the pub's riverside terrace and it's soon obvious why it's a winner. This Kingston-upon-Thames pub is one to keep in mind when you want to have a few pints and soak up some precious rays, ponder what life's like living in the moored houseboats across the river and enjoy the pretty view. The menu's okay, service is hardworking and friendly and the variety of ales on offer is noteworthy.
The 8oz West Country steak burger in a floured bap with home made relish, onion jam, salad and chips for £10 served on slate with tasters of creamy coleslaw and piccalilli was ample nosh for us on a recent visit. It didn't rock our worlds but more than sufficed. And we must admit we liked the option of having our chips with gravy and melted mature Cheddar. Washed down with a pint of Bath Ales' bitter sweet Gem ale, it was a welcome lunch. We were offered dessert but were entirely too full.
For the foodie set, “bar munchies” such as goat cheese rarebit (£3) or home made pork scratchings with smoked paprika (£3.50) and “light bites” like house bressola of West Country beef with celeriac remoulade (£6.50) and pulled pork rillette with bishop piccalilli (£7) suggest a gourmet gastropub approach to things in the kitchen but not a terribly veggie-friendly one. And judging from our observations, the Young's beer battered fish and chips with mushy peas and tartar sauce is a most popular main though nothing about it looked particularly interesting to us.
100% nestled in the “not bad category” with a nudge up to “quite nice” if strolling along the Thames on a sunny day in search of decent pub grub and beer in a pleasant low key setting, The Bishop-out-of-Residence is located at 2 Bishop's Hall, off Thames Street, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 1PY. Visit the pub online at www.bishopoutofresidence.co.uk.
Photo/Chris Osburn
Disclaimer: Londonist visited The Bishop-out-of-Residence upon invitation of the pub.
